Josephine Barrett Cooper

Josephine Barrett Cooper, age 87, of Northport, AL, passed away on May 19, 2023 at her home surrounded by loved ones. Services will be at 2 p.m. on Sunday, May 21, 2023 at Tuscaloosa Memorial Chapel with Rev. Billy Gray officiating and burial to follow at Tuscaloosa Memorial Park. A visitation will be held one hour prior to the service.
Jo Cooper was born October 20, 1935, to Elmer and Vera Barrett of Echola, AL. After graduating from Tuscaloosa County High School, she was soon introduced to the love of her life, Charles Cooper, by her Aunt Lucille Barrett. For the next 55 years Charles and Jo would build a life and a home full of love, laughter, support, and some of the best home-cooked meals one could ever find.
They purchased a house in the Holt community in 1959 in which to raise their three children; Connie, Ed and Larry and this home very quickly grew to the gathering place, not only their own children, but the majority of the neighborhood. In In 2011, they would lose that home to the Tuscaloosa tornado outbreak and relocated to the Shirley Farms neighborhood in Northport. At Shirley Farms, it was again a testament to Jo's loving and caring nature that their new home again became the center point of daily back porch gatherings, home-cooked meals, and some of the most competitive card games around.
If not in the kitchen or tending to her flowers, Jo could be found out and about, on a various day trip with her sister Kathy or out visiting family and friends. Her favorite vacation destination was Gatlinburg, she loved the Smokey Mountains, and even away from home, Jo never met a stranger.
Jo made everyone feel welcome, she never turned away a single person in need. She was a listening ear and a warm hug on a hard day, regardless if you were a neighbor or one of her six beloved grandchildren. She rarely missed an Awards Day, School Program, or Sporting Even; always there to show her love, support and pride for a family that loved her tremendously and will never forget the values she helped instill in us.
Although we will greatly miss her warm hugs and wonderful cooking, especially the pecan pies, hot fudge cakes, smash cake, egg custard and special scrambled eggs We take comfort in knowing she is reunited with our Dad whom she has missed tremendously these past ten years.
Ms. Cooper is preceded in death by her husband Charles E Cooper, parents Elmer and Vera Barrett, brother Clyde Barrett.
She is survived by daughter Connie C. Taylor & husband Bill, sons Charles Edward (Ed) Cooper, and wife Teresa, Larry Glenn Cooper and wife Allyson, all of Northport, AL; grandchildren: Andrew Taylor (Laura), Kayla Cooper, Courtney Taylor (Brittany), Blade Cooper (Cody), Ty Barrett Cooper (Briana), Kory Sullivan (Amber) and Garrett Welch; great-grandchildren: Grayson Taylor, Josie Taylor, Stella and Grady Logan, Cindy Brooke, Caroline and Jasper Sullivan; sister: Kathy Akin of Gordo, AL, brother Dennis Barrett (Joyce) of Echola, AL; sister in Law: Mary Falls.
Serving as Active Pallbearers will be her grandsons: Andrew Taylor, Courtney Taylor, Blade Cooper, Ty Cooper, Kory Sullivan, Garrett Welch and Tim Porter. The family wishes to recognize the Staff of Hospice of West Alabama, Shirley Farms neighbors, Mrs. Eunice McIntosh, and our sweet "family" who selflessly helped care for and love on our Mother these past months: Kathy Akin, Martha Ann Rodgers, Elaine Click and Kristie Jones, as Honorary Pallbearers, we will forever be grateful for you.